After a sensational ride for qualifications – Iannone at the first position, third one for Dovizioso and fourth for Crutchlow, we had to face a difficult and hard competition, but luckily Andrea Iannone was able to keep the rhythm and gain a wonderful second place.

OUR RIDERS:

Andrea Dovizioso - position

Andrea Iannone 2th position

Cal Crutchlow -

Jack Miller -

DUCATI TEAM

Andrea Iannone scored his best-ever finish in MotoGP, taking the runner-up slot in the TIM Italian GP held at Mugello. The Ducati Team rider, who started from pole position, rode a great race on the undulating Tuscany circuit to take the 20 points for second. After crossing the line at the end of the opening lap in third place, Iannone was then passed by Marquez one lap later and he remained fourth until lap 9. On the tenth lap Andrea then passed both Dovizioso and Marquez to move into second, and he held onto that place until the chequered flag despite coming under attack from Marquez, who crashed out, and a rapidly recovering Rossi. Thanks to this result, Iannone has now moved into fourth place overall in the standings with 81 points.

Andrea Dovizioso, who also started from the front row after setting third quickest time in qualifying, instead had an unfortunate race. After a good start, the Italian crossed lap 1 in second and then began a terrific scrap with Marquez. Unfortunately a problem with the rear sprocket of his GP15 first caused him to slow and then enter the pits on lap 14. Despite retiring from his home race, Dovizioso holds onto third place in the championship with 83 points.

Michele Pirro had a good run after starting from row 2 thanks to a sixth fastest time in yesterday’s qualifying session. The Ducati Test Team test-rider, making his first wild-card appearance of the year on a GP15, finished the TIM Italian GP in eighth place.

Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team #29) – 2nd

“I am so pleased with today’s result: it was incredible, because today it was not easy to score a podium finish. My team did a great job, the bike worked really well and the Clinica Mobile gave me a big hand throughout the weekend. This GP15 is a really great bike, and I was able to administer the race really well. At the start I wanted to try and stay with Jorge: he didn’t have a better pace than me, but he did manage to keep that pace by taking fewer risks. When I realized that I was pushing too hard, I tried to maintain my speed, do my own race and keep one eye on my shoulder, which from mid-race onwards was showing signs of tiredness. I want to thank everyone because this is the result of great team-work and is something that we have built up together.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – DNF

“Today went wrong right from the start with my mistake in this morning’s warm-up. I got a good start in the race and I was in amongst the frontrunners but I had to retire because my GP15 had a problem with excessive wear of the rear sprocket. It was a real pity, because I reckon I could have fought for the podium, and seeing as we were at Mugello, I was really banking on doing so. But above all I didn’t score any points for the championship, which for me is the most important thing.”

Michele Pirro (Ducati Team #51) – 8th

“I am satisfied with the way my Italian GP went, but I’m sorry for Dovizioso’s retirement and congratulations to Iannone for getting a podium finish. As for me, it was a really emotional weekend: I was fourth yesterday morning, I was on the second row of the grid with sixth quickest time, and in the end I finished in eighth place. My aim was to finish less than 30 seconds down on the winner and I managed to do so, so I’d like to thank Ducati, the guys in the test team and everyone working back in the factory. We have gathered some useful indications, and so I hope to be able to do better in the next race because we have a lot of potential”.  

Claudio Domenicali (CEO, Ducati Motor Holding)

“It was a great Italian GP, with a lot of fans in the grandstands and all around the Mugello circuit. This is for sure a sign of the vitality and passion that surrounds our sport, and we can only be happy about it. Setting pole position, with an outright circuit record, and a fantastic second place in the race is further confirmation that our bike is competitive and that the talented Andrea Iannone is maturing fast. The technical problem that caused Andrea Dovizioso to retire and which bothered him right from the early laps of the race is a real shame, because without this Andrea would have surely been in with a chance, judging by the speed he showed throughout the entire weekend. Michele Pirro’s race was also a satisfying one, sixth in qualifying and eighth in his debut race this year. My congratulations go to Gigi Dall’Igna and all the guys in Ducati Corse, who are making this dream possible with their extraordinary commitment and dedication.”

LCR TEAM

Cal Crutchlow endured a hugely disappointing end to the sixth round of the MotoGP World Championship as he crashed out three laps from the end of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello when placed fifth. 

The CWM LCR Honda rider defied a hand injury picked up from a nasty fall in this morning’s warm-up to produce a brave ride and looked poised for a good points finish. 

But having battled front end problems all race, the Briton finally succumbed three laps from the chequered flag and went over at the fast turn eight, sustaining a dislocated ankle for his troubles.

Cal Crutchlow #35 (DNF) 

“It’s very disappointing for the whole CWM LCR Honda team. We had what I thought was a good weekend up until the race. This morning I had a very heavy crash in the warm-up and had a big impact on my hand, so I thought it was a good showing to be racing in the position that I was. 

“We had the 38 front tyre which meant steering the bike was not easy, but overall we were not so far off the factory guys and with the right setting I think we could have been higher. 

“Unfortunately the front tyre failed me in the end and just tucked under at a very fast corner. My foot got caught in the back of the bike and dislocated my ankle so I’m in a lot of pain and we’ll have to monitor the situation but I’ve had good treatment. 

“Obviously I’m really disappointed because it was a good race and a good showing and Honda are working very hard for us to improve so we need to come back stronger in Barcelona hopefully.”

The sixth round of the MotoGP World Championship proved one to forget for Jack Miller as he crashed out after just two laps of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on Sunday. 

Having started from the ninth row, the CWM LCR Honda rider made a good start at the team’s home track. However, Miller was hampered by front end problems from the off which ultimately proved his downfall as he slid out at the final corner of the circuit. 

That meant the Australian failed to finish for the second race in succession, but he remains upbeat about the rest of the season and believes there is plenty of potential to improve. 

Jack Miller #43 (DNF)

“It was a rubbish race to be honest. I had an awesome start and was going good, but already by the second lap I was having moments with the front. Where Cal unfortunately fell off, I was also close to losing it and Nicky (Hayden) slipped by. I got back past him, but then I had another moment and then it was moment after moment until I couldn’t hold it up anymore. 

“When I got to the final corner the front just went on me and it was beyond recovery. It was really hard here, especially with the front of the bike. 

“I’m still positive, we’re still in good shape. We’ve shown we’ve got the speed, it’s just getting more comfortable on this thing. We seem to be really struggling with the front end, but it’s not only us, there are other guys out there too struggling with it. We’re working on it, it’s only the last couple of races that haven’t been good to us and we need to just focus on getting better and better.”